And as to the gardener, there had been no deception, only a desire to bring the two souls together in the most natural way, without violence, without recommendations and previous explanations.
They started up the hill together, talking of Benedetto.
Noemi, forgetting her weariness, hung upon the Padre's lips, and the Padre, precisely on this account, said so little and was so circumspect that she trembled with impatience, and presently felt tired again.
She took Maria's arm, and allowed Don Clemente to go on with her brother-in-law.

Then Don Clemente confided to Giovanni that his mission at Jenne was of a painful nature.

It seemed some one at Jenne had written to Rome, speaking in hostile language of Benedetto, accusing him of preaching what was not perfectly orthodox, of pretending to be a miracle worker, and of wearing a religious habit to which he had no right: this greatly enhancing the gravity of the scandal.

Certainly they had written to the Abbot from Rome, for he had ordered Don Clemente to go to Jenne, and demand of Benedetto the restitution of the habit.

Don Clemente had tried in vain to dissuade the old abbot, who had waved the matter aside with a jest.